diff --git a/file/types.go b/file/types.go
index 2d7ef79a2..4c86aa778 100644
--- a/file/types.go
+++ b/file/types.go
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ import (
 // Format is a file format for Kong's configuration.
 type Format string
 
-type id interface {
-	id() string
+type sortable interface {
+	sortKey() string
 }
 
 const (
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ type FService struct {
 	URL *string `json:"url,omitempty" yaml:",omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (s FService) id() string {
-	if s.ID != nil {
-		return *s.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (s FService) sortKey() string {
 	if s.Name != nil {
 		return *s.Name
 	}
+	if s.ID != nil {
+		return *s.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
@@ -216,14 +216,14 @@ type FRoute struct {
 	Plugins    []*FPlugin `json:"plugins,omitempty" yaml:",omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (r FRoute) id() string {
-	if r.ID != nil {
-		return *r.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (r FRoute) sortKey() string {
 	if r.Name != nil {
 		return *r.Name
 	}
+	if r.ID != nil {
+		return *r.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
@@ -234,14 +234,14 @@ type FUpstream struct {
 	Targets       []*FTarget `json:"targets,omitempty" yaml:",omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (u FUpstream) id() string {
-	if u.ID != nil {
-		return *u.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (u FUpstream) sortKey() string {
 	if u.Name != nil {
 		return *u.Name
 	}
+	if u.ID != nil {
+		return *u.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@ type FTarget struct {
 	kong.Target `yaml:",inline,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (t FTarget) id() string {
-	if t.ID != nil {
-		return *t.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (t FTarget) sortKey() string {
 	if t.Target.Target != nil {
 		return *t.Target.Target
 	}
+	if t.ID != nil {
+		return *t.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
@@ -273,14 +273,14 @@ type FCertificate struct {
 	SNIs      []kong.SNI `json:"snis,omitempty" yaml:"snis,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (c FCertificate) id() string {
-	if c.ID != nil {
-		return *c.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (c FCertificate) sortKey() string {
 	if c.Cert != nil {
 		return *c.Cert
 	}
+	if c.ID != nil {
+		return *c.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
@@ -290,14 +290,14 @@ type FCACertificate struct {
 	kong.CACertificate `yaml:",inline,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (c FCACertificate) id() string {
-	if c.ID != nil {
-		return *c.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (c FCACertificate) sortKey() string {
 	if c.Cert != nil {
 		return *c.Cert
 	}
+	if c.ID != nil {
+		return *c.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
@@ -444,24 +444,27 @@ func (p *FPlugin) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (p FPlugin) id() string {
-	if p.ID != nil {
-		return *p.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (p FPlugin) sortKey() string {
 	// concat plugin name and foreign relations
-	key := ""
-	key = *p.Name
-	if p.Consumer != nil {
-		key += *p.Consumer.ID
-	}
-	if p.Route != nil {
-		key += *p.Route.ID
+	if p.Name != nil {
+		key := ""
+		key = *p.Name
+		if p.Consumer != nil {
+			key += *p.Consumer.ID
+		}
+		if p.Route != nil {
+			key += *p.Route.ID
+		}
+		if p.Service != nil {
+			key += *p.Service.ID
+		}
+		return key
 	}
-	if p.Service != nil {
-		key += *p.Service.ID
+	if p.ID != nil {
+		return *p.ID
 	}
-	return key
+	return ""
 }
 
 // FConsumer represents a consumer in Kong.
@@ -478,14 +481,14 @@ type FConsumer struct {
 	MTLSAuths     []*kong.MTLSAuth         `json:"mtls_auth_credentials,omitempty" yaml:"mtls_auth_credentials,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (c FConsumer) id() string {
-	if c.ID != nil {
-		return *c.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (c FConsumer) sortKey() string {
 	if c.Username != nil {
 		return *c.Username
 	}
+	if c.ID != nil {
+		return *c.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
@@ -533,14 +536,14 @@ type FServicePackage struct {
 	Versions    []FServiceVersion `json:"versions,omitempty" yaml:"versions,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// id is used for sorting.
-func (s FServicePackage) id() string {
-	if s.ID != nil {
-		return *s.ID
-	}
+// sortKey is used for sorting.
+func (s FServicePackage) sortKey() string {
 	if s.Name != nil {
 		return *s.Name
 	}
+	if s.ID != nil {
+		return *s.ID
+	}
 	return ""
 }
 
diff --git a/file/types_test.go b/file/types_test.go
index 497c4e89d..122adb5eb 100644
--- a/file/types_test.go
+++ b/file/types_test.go
@@ -39,6 +39,237 @@ protocols:
 `
 )
 
+func Test_sortKey(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		sortable    sortable
+		expectedKey string
+	}{
+		{
+			sortable: &FService{
+				Service: kong.Service{
+					Name: kong.String("my-service"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-service",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: &FService{
+				Service: kong.Service{
+					ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FService{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		}, {
+			sortable: &FRoute{
+				Route: kong.Route{
+					Name: kong.String("my-route"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-route",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FRoute{
+				Route: kong.Route{
+					ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FRoute{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		}, {
+			sortable: FUpstream{
+				Upstream: kong.Upstream{
+					Name: kong.String("my-upstream"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-upstream",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FUpstream{
+				Upstream: kong.Upstream{
+					ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FUpstream{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		}, {
+			sortable: FTarget{
+				Target: kong.Target{
+					Target: kong.String("my-target"),
+					ID:     kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-target",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FTarget{
+				Target: kong.Target{
+					ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FTarget{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		}, {
+			sortable: FCertificate{
+				Cert: kong.String("my-certificate"),
+				ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-certificate",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FCertificate{
+				ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FCertificate{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		}, {
+			sortable: FCACertificate{
+				CACertificate: kong.CACertificate{
+					Cert: kong.String("my-ca-certificate"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-ca-certificate",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FCACertificate{
+				CACertificate: kong.CACertificate{
+					ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FCACertificate{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FPlugin{
+				Plugin: kong.Plugin{
+					Name: kong.String("my-plugin"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-plugin",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FPlugin{
+				Plugin: kong.Plugin{
+					Name: kong.String("my-plugin"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+					Consumer: &kong.Consumer{
+						ID: kong.String("my-consumer-id"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-pluginmy-consumer-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FPlugin{
+				Plugin: kong.Plugin{
+					Name: kong.String("my-plugin"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+					Route: &kong.Route{
+						ID: kong.String("my-route-id"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-pluginmy-route-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: FPlugin{
+				Plugin: kong.Plugin{
+					Name: kong.String("my-plugin"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+					Service: &kong.Service{
+						ID: kong.String("my-service-id"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-pluginmy-service-id",
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable: FPlugin{
+				Plugin: kong.Plugin{
+					ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FPlugin{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: &FConsumer{
+				Consumer: kong.Consumer{
+					Username: kong.String("my-consumer"),
+					ID:       kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-consumer",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: &FConsumer{
+				Consumer: kong.Consumer{
+					ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+				},
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FConsumer{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: &FServicePackage{
+				Name: kong.String("my-service-package"),
+				ID:   kong.String("my-id"),
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-service-package",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable: &FServicePackage{
+				ID: kong.String("my-id"),
+			},
+			expectedKey: "my-id",
+		},
+		{
+			sortable:    FServicePackage{},
+			expectedKey: "",
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			key := tt.sortable.sortKey()
+			if key != tt.expectedKey {
+				t.Errorf("Expected %v, but is %v", tt.expectedKey, key)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
+}
+
 func TestPluginUnmarshalYAML(t *testing.T) {
 	var p FPlugin
 	assert := assert.New(t)
diff --git a/file/writer.go b/file/writer.go
index afb5ee49a..8287e40da 100644
--- a/file/writer.go
+++ b/file/writer.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ type WriteConfig struct {
 	WithID     bool
 }
 
-func compareID(obj1, obj2 id) bool {
-	return strings.Compare(obj1.id(), obj2.id()) < 0
+func compareOrder(obj1, obj2 sortable) bool {
+	return strings.Compare(obj1.sortKey(), obj2.sortKey()) < 0
 }
 
 // KongStateToFile writes a state object to file with filename.
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func populateServicePackages(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 		file.ServicePackages = append(file.ServicePackages, p)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.ServicePackages, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.ServicePackages[i], file.ServicePackages[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.ServicePackages[i], file.ServicePackages[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func populateServices(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 		file.Services = append(file.Services, *s)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.Services, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.Services[i], file.Services[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.Services[i], file.Services[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func fetchService(id string, kongState *state.KongState, config WriteConfig) (*F
 		s.Plugins = append(s.Plugins, &FPlugin{Plugin: p.Plugin})
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(s.Plugins, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(s.Plugins[i], s.Plugins[j])
+		return compareOrder(s.Plugins[i], s.Plugins[j])
 	})
 	for _, r := range routes {
 		plugins, err := kongState.Plugins.GetAllByRouteID(*r.ID)
@@ -239,12 +239,12 @@ func fetchService(id string, kongState *state.KongState, config WriteConfig) (*F
 			route.Plugins = append(route.Plugins, &FPlugin{Plugin: p.Plugin})
 		}
 		sort.SliceStable(route.Plugins, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return compareID(route.Plugins[i], route.Plugins[j])
+			return compareOrder(route.Plugins[i], route.Plugins[j])
 		})
 		s.Routes = append(s.Routes, route)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(s.Routes, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(s.Routes[i], s.Routes[j])
+		return compareOrder(s.Routes[i], s.Routes[j])
 	})
 	utils.ZeroOutID(&s, s.Name, config.WithID)
 	utils.ZeroOutTimestamps(&s)
@@ -280,12 +280,12 @@ func populateServicelessRoutes(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 			route.Plugins = append(route.Plugins, &FPlugin{Plugin: p.Plugin})
 		}
 		sort.SliceStable(route.Plugins, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return compareID(route.Plugins[i], route.Plugins[j])
+			return compareOrder(route.Plugins[i], route.Plugins[j])
 		})
 		file.Routes = append(file.Routes, *route)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.Routes, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.Routes[i], file.Routes[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.Routes[i], file.Routes[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ func populatePlugins(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 		}
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.Plugins, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.Plugins[i], file.Plugins[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.Plugins[i], file.Plugins[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ func populateUpstreams(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 			u.Targets = append(u.Targets, &FTarget{Target: t.Target})
 		}
 		sort.SliceStable(u.Targets, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return compareID(u.Targets[i], u.Targets[j])
+			return compareOrder(u.Targets[i], u.Targets[j])
 		})
 		utils.ZeroOutID(&u, u.Name, config.WithID)
 		utils.ZeroOutTimestamps(&u)
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ func populateUpstreams(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 		file.Upstreams = append(file.Upstreams, u)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.Upstreams, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.Upstreams[i], file.Upstreams[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.Upstreams[i], file.Upstreams[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ func populateCertificates(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 		file.Certificates = append(file.Certificates, c)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.Certificates, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.Certificates[i], file.Certificates[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.Certificates[i], file.Certificates[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ func populateCACertificates(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 		file.CACertificates = append(file.CACertificates, c)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.CACertificates, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.CACertificates[i], file.CACertificates[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.CACertificates[i], file.CACertificates[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ func populateConsumers(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 			c.Plugins = append(c.Plugins, &FPlugin{Plugin: p.Plugin})
 		}
 		sort.SliceStable(c.Plugins, func(i, j int) bool {
-			return compareID(c.Plugins[i], c.Plugins[j])
+			return compareOrder(c.Plugins[i], c.Plugins[j])
 		})
 		// custom-entities associated with Consumer
 		keyAuths, err := kongState.KeyAuths.GetAllByConsumerID(*c.ID)
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ func populateConsumers(kongState *state.KongState, file *Content,
 		file.RBACRoles = append(file.RBACRoles, r)
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(file.Consumers, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return compareID(file.Consumers[i], file.Consumers[j])
+		return compareOrder(file.Consumers[i], file.Consumers[j])
 	})
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/file/writer_test.go b/file/writer_test.go
index 0b457c0fb..81153f844 100644
--- a/file/writer_test.go
+++ b/file/writer_test.go
@@ -42,6 +42,158 @@ func captureOutput(f func()) string {
 	return <-out
 }
 
+func Test_compareOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		sortable1 sortable
+		sortable2 sortable
+		expected  bool
+	}{
+		{
+			sortable1: &FService{
+				Service: kong.Service{
+					Name: kong.String("my-service-1"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-1"),
+				},
+			},
+			sortable2: &FService{
+				Service: kong.Service{
+					Name: kong.String("my-service-2"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: &FRoute{
+				Route: kong.Route{
+					Name: kong.String("my-route-1"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-1"),
+				},
+			},
+			sortable2: &FRoute{
+				Route: kong.Route{
+					Name: kong.String("my-route-2"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: FUpstream{
+				Upstream: kong.Upstream{
+					Name: kong.String("my-upstream-1"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-1"),
+				},
+			},
+			sortable2: FUpstream{
+				Upstream: kong.Upstream{
+					Name: kong.String("my-upstream-2"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: FTarget{
+				Target: kong.Target{
+					Target: kong.String("my-target-1"),
+					ID:     kong.String("my-id-1"),
+				},
+			},
+			sortable2: FTarget{
+				Target: kong.Target{
+					Target: kong.String("my-target-2"),
+					ID:     kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: FCertificate{
+				Cert: kong.String("my-certificate-1"),
+				ID:   kong.String("my-id-1"),
+			},
+			sortable2: FCertificate{
+				Cert: kong.String("my-certificate-2"),
+				ID:   kong.String("my-id-2"),
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: FCACertificate{
+				CACertificate: kong.CACertificate{
+					Cert: kong.String("my-ca-certificate-1"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-1"),
+				},
+			},
+			sortable2: FCACertificate{
+				CACertificate: kong.CACertificate{
+					Cert: kong.String("my-ca-certificate-2"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: FPlugin{
+				Plugin: kong.Plugin{
+					Name: kong.String("my-plugin-1"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-1"),
+				},
+			},
+			sortable2: FPlugin{
+				Plugin: kong.Plugin{
+					Name: kong.String("my-plugin-2"),
+					ID:   kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: &FConsumer{
+				Consumer: kong.Consumer{
+					Username: kong.String("my-consumer-1"),
+					ID:       kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			sortable2: &FConsumer{
+				Consumer: kong.Consumer{
+					Username: kong.String("my-consumer-2"),
+					ID:       kong.String("my-id-2"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+
+		{
+			sortable1: &FServicePackage{
+				Name: kong.String("my-service-package-1"),
+				ID:   kong.String("my-id-1"),
+			},
+			sortable2: &FServicePackage{
+				Name: kong.String("my-service-package-2"),
+				ID:   kong.String("my-id-2"),
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if compareOrder(tt.sortable1, tt.sortable2) != tt.expected {
+				t.Errorf("Expected %v, but isn't", tt.expected)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestWriteKongStateToStdoutEmptyState(t *testing.T) {
 	var ks, _ = state.NewKongState()
 	var filename = "-"